Current water-wheel.



T. SYMMONDS.

CURRENT WATER WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED 001'. 1, 1904. RENEWED DBO. 1a, 1907.

Patented NOV. 4, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

V LU ITN E55 E5 WZZZZ COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH (20., WASHINGTON, D. c.

T. SYMMONDS.

CURRENT WATER WHEEL. AP'PLIOATION FILED OCT. 1, 1904. RENEWED DBO. 1a,1907.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

3 SHEETS-BHEET 2.

LIJITNESSESI.

INVENTEIFI. 7E5 o PffIL US Y H yaw:

ama P EYATTEIRNEY.

COLUMBIA P LANOCIRAPH co.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

T. SYMMONDS.

CURRENT WATER WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 1, 1904. RENEWED DEC. 18, 1007.

Patented Nov. 4, 191.3.

3 BHBETSSHEET 3 INVENTOR.

MIT-N55555:

ATTORNEY.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH c0., WASHINGTON, D. c.

FFTQ

THEOPHILUS SYMMONDS, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

CURRENT WATER-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

Application filed October 1, 1904, Serial No. 226,765. Renewed December18, 1907. Serial No. 407,043.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEOPHILUS SYM- MONDS, citizen of the United States,residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Current Water-WVheels;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in water wheels and moreparticularly to that class in which the paddles are exposed to theimpulse of the current of a stream or raceway.

The object of my invention is to provide a construction in which thereis absolutely no back pressure of water upon the paddles, and wherebythe paddles are only exposed when they are receiving the impulse of thecurrent, being sheathed at all other times during their revolution.

To that end my invention consists in certain details of construction,all of which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a central vertical section of my improvedwheel and its adjuncts. Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing a partialhorizontal section, taken in the line acsc of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is apartial vertical section, taken in the line yy of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is adetached detail of the tightening band and lever, constituting thebrake. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section through one of thepaddles and the auxiliary gate for closing the opening through which thepaddle is projected into its operative position. Fig. 6 is a detailelevation of the unshipping device, partly in section. Fig. 7 is ahorizontal section, taken in the line z-2 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the cas-.

ing, preferably of concrete or masonry construction, and designed to bebuilt along the side of, or in a running stream or raceway, the currentof which is to be utilized for the development of power. Theside of thiscasing 1, exposed to the current, is left open, such opening beingprovided with the gate 2, which is slidable vertically in and out of thevertical channels 3, 3, in the casing 1.

4 is a cylindrical drum, with closed bottom 5, its top being left open.Centrally arranged within the drum, is the vertical tube or casing6,'which loosely surrounds the stationary vertical shaft 7, around whichthe drum 4 is intended to be revolved. The lower square end 8 of shaft 7rests fixedly in the socket 9, within which are arranged a series offricti0n-balls 10, against which the drum 4 rests, when in its lowestposition. The upper end of shaft 7 rests rigidly in the covering-plate11, which is supported in an elevated position on the casing 1, by theposts 12. It will be seen that the drum 4 is closely surrounded by thecasing 1 except at its open side, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. I havepreferably shown the drum 4 as revolving around a stationary shaft, thisbeing, in my judgment, the most practicable form, but, if desired, thedrum might be rigid with the shaft, in which event, its upper and lowerends must be revoluble in their sockets. Within the drum are arranged aseries of radial vertical paddles 13, herein shown as five in number.The upper and lower edges of these paddles are slidable in channeledsupports 14, 15, in which are arranged the spaced friction-rollers 16.These paddles 13 pass in and out of the drum 4, through the verticalopenings 17 and in order to provide an extended bearing, as well as awater-tight joint, I have secured on each side of such openings 17 andwithin the drum, the angle-plates 18, 18, having the vertical channels19, 19, opening onto the paddles and filled with suitable packingmaterial for carrying a lubricant supplied from the cups 20. Each paddle13 is reciprocated in and out of the drum 4 by the piston-rod 21, hingedto such paddle at its outer end and to a piston-head within the cylinder22. The cylinders 22, five in number, are supplied with compressed air,as a motive force, from the common reservoir 23, through the common pipe24 and the branch pipes 25, which lead separately to the valve-boxes 26.

27 is the pump which compresses the air in the reservoir 23. Thepiston-rod 28 of the pump is journaled to the eccentric-pin 29 of thebevel-gear 30 mounted on shaft 31, which is journaled in the bracket 31,rigidly mounted on the tube or casing 6. The bevel-gear 30 intermesheswith the bevelgear 82, rigidly mounted on the frame 33, the inner end ofwhich loosely encircles the stationary shaft 7, with ball-bearings 33 tofacilitate an easy vertical movement of the frame 33 on the stationaryshaft 7. Its outer end 3% slidably engages the shaft 35.

36 is a gear-wheel feathered on the shaft 35 and intermeshing with thegear 37 on the drum 4. I

The upper end of shaft 35 is journaled in the covering plate 11 and onits upper end is rigidly mounted the bevel-gear 38, which intermesheswith the bevel-gear 39 on the power shaft 40. A ratchet-escapement ofany well known form is contained in the casing 41.

The means which I have employed for stopping the rotation of the drumconsists of a brake mechanism constructed and arranged as follows: 42 isa friction band, one end of which is attached to the brake-lever 43provided with the locking segmental-gear l-i. The other end of thefriction-band is fixedly secured to the framework.

The automatic mechanism for regulating the action of the piston-rods 21,for presenting the paddles 13 to the action of the current across theopen side of the casing l and for sheathing the same within the drum atthe proper time, is arranged as follows: i5 is the valve-rod, extendingup from the valve-box 2G and having its upper end journaled in thechanneled support 14. On its Upper end is rigidly secured the crank-arm4-6. l? is a pitman, pivoted at one end to the crank-arm {L6 and at itsother end to a slideplate l8, adapted to be reciprocated between theways 19, 49, on the channeled support 14'. At the outer end of the slideplate 48 is the upwardly extending pin 50. 51, 51 are two arms extendingradially from the bevel-gear 32 toward the opposite sides of the openingin the casing 1, having at their outer ends the sockets 52. 53 is a rodadapted for adjustable engagement with the socket 52, its upper endbeing provided with the annular shoulder 53, and its lower end carryingthe angular shifting-plate 54, adapted for operative engagement with thepins 50. Within the upper end of rod 53 is the socket 55, see 6, inwhich is slidably engaged the rod 56, which extends up through thecoverii'ig-plate 11 and post 57. The upper end 58 of the rod 56 isscrewthreaded and 59 is a hand-wheel in engagenient with the rod 56, forraising and. lower in g the same, and with it the rod 53. A bolt (30passing through the socket 52 and riding in an elongated slot 61 in therod 56, prevents the rod 56 from becoming detached from the rod and atthe same time permits of the raising of both rods 53 and 56, by amanipulation of the hand-wheel 59.

In operation, the current of the stream is supposed to be flowing pastthe open side of the casing 1, from right to left. As the paddle 13,which is approaching the upper or right-hand end of the opening, reachesthe shifting-plate 54, the pin 50, which is at its extreme outer point,strikes such shifting-plate and is forced inward, illustrated in dottedlines. This movement actuates the pitman 47, which causes the crank-arm4G to operate the valve of cylinder 22. The compressed air is admittedbehind the piston-head attached to the piston-rod 21. The outwardmovement of such pistoirrod forces the paddle 13 out into contact withthe passing current of water, which is exerted against the same untilthe pin 50 reaches the other shifting-plate 54:, which causes such pinto be forced outwardly, as

clearly shown in dotted lines. The outward movement of pin 50 operatesthe cylindervalve as before and the exposed paddle is sheathed withinthe drum at the moment that it approaches the lower or left-hand side ofthe opening in the casing 1, where it will remain sheathed until itagain approaches the point at which the current is to be utilized. Inthis manner, :ach paddle becomes operative only across the opening inthe casing, it being sheathed within the drum, during the rest of itstravel within the casing.

The effect accomplished with my improved wheel is that the entire forceof the current is utilized against the paddles and as each paddle issheathed when it leaves the current and remains so until it againreaches the running water, there is absolutely no back-pressure, theresult being that the maximum force of the current is utilized. Therevolution of the gear 30 furnishes the power to operate the pump 27,thereby maintaining a constant supply of compressed air in the reservoir23, with which to operate the piston rods 21, in reciprocating thepaddles 13 into their operative and idle positions, as has already beendescribed. When it becomes necessary to stop the rotation of the drum,for repairs or for any other purpose, the lever 43 is turned, whichtightens the frictiondoand :2 around the drum and stops the same, theratchet-escapement permitting the power shaft 4-0 to continue itsrevolution without interruption, thereby permitting it to receive theimpulse of other power-wheels, should a battery of them be employed. Inthe event of stopping the drum for repairs, I have provided an extraprecaution for keeping out the Water from the interior of the drum,which is shown in detail in Figs. 5 and 7, in which 63 is a recessedplate bolted to the outside of the drum in front of the elongated slots17, through which the paddles 13 are reciprocated. These plates areprovided on their outer faces with elongated slots 64, corresponding insize and registering with the slots 17, for the passage therethrough ofthe paddles 13. 65 are elongated gates adapted to be passed down snuglybetween the recessed plates 63 and the side of the drum and against theelongated slots 17 and 64, thus serving as an additional guard forpreventing the entrance of water into the drum. The drum, as shown, isfree to move upwardly with a rise of the stream owing to the buoyantefiort. of the water and should such rise occur, the rods 53, carryingthe shifting-plates 54 and having their annular shoulders 53 restingupon the sockets 52, will ride upwardly with the drum, the rod 56 whichis rigid sinking into the slot 55 in the rod 53. The shifting-plates 54can at any time be raised above the plane of revolution of the pins 50,by a proper manipulation of the hand-wheel 59.

My improved wheel may be placed in a running stream, away from itsbanks, with equally effective results, or it can be placed at the sideof a straight artificial raceway.

With my improved construction the current passes in a directiontangential to the drum at the open side of the casing, the

paddles being presented to the force of the current only in their travelacross the open side of the casing, being sheathed at all other pointsof their travel. This taken in conjunction with the fact that the casingclosely surrounds the drum except at its open side, precludes thepossibility of any danger of clogging from floating ice or driftwood.

I claim:

1. In a current water-wheel, in combination, a hollow drum provided withopenings in its wall, a casing closely surrounding the drum and open onthe side exposed to the current, a plurality of paddles within the drumadapted for outward movement into.

the current through the openings of the drum, and means constructed andarranged to successively project one paddle at a time into the currentacross the opening in the side of the casing and sheathing the remainingpaddles within the drum during the projection of one paddle.

2. In a current water-wheel, in combination, a hollow drum provided withopenings in its wall, a casing closely surrounding the drum and open onthe side exposed to the current, a plurality of unconnected paddleswithin the drum adapted for outward movement into the current throughthe openings of the drum, and means constructed and arranged forprojecting one paddle at a time into the current across the open side ofsaid casing and sheathing the same within the drum during the remainderof its travel.

3. In a current water-wheel, in combination, a vertical hollow drumprovided with spaced openings in its wall, a casing surrounding the drumand open on the side exposed to the current, a series of unconnectedradial vertical paddles within the drum adapted. for outward movementinto the current through said vertical openings and across the open sideof said casing, and means constructed and arranged for projecting onepaddle at a time into the ourrent across the open side of said casingand sheathing such paddle within the drum during the remainder of itstravel and maintaining such paddle stationary when sheathed within thedrum until again projected.

4c. In a current water-wheel, in combination, a hollow drum providedwith openings in its wall, a casing surrounding the drum and providedwith an opening, a pluand provided with 'an opening, a plurality ofpaddles within the drum adapted for outward movement through theopenings in the drum and across the opening in the casing, and meansconstructed and arranged to reciprocate said paddles and to project onepaddle at a time across the opening in the casing and to draw suchpaddle into the drum wherein it is sheathed until again proj ected, eachpaddle being held stationary while projected and each paddle being heldstationary while sheathed within the drum.

6. In a current water-wheel, in combination, a hollow drum provided withopenings in its wall, a. casing surrounding the drum and provided withan opening, a series of unconnected paddles within the drum adapted foroutward movement through the openings in the drum and across the openingin the casing, and means constructed and arranged to project one paddleat a time across the opening in the caslng and maintain the projectedpaddle stationary while projected against accidental. lateraldisplacement or inward movement under the influence of the current, theprojected paddle being capable of receding into the drum if contactedwith by heavy icefloes.

7 In a current water-wheel, in combination, a hollow drum provided withopenings in its wall, a plurality of paddles within the drum adapted foroutward movement through the openings therein, and means constructed andarranged to reciprocate said paddles and to project one paddle at a timethrough the corresponding opening in the drum and to draw such paddlemto thedrum wherein it is sheathed until again projected, each paddlebeing movable for operation only when being projected and when beingdrawn into the drum.

8. In a current watervhee'l, in combination, a stationary verticalshaft, a. vertically movable drum mounted for rotation upon said shaft acasing surrounding the drum and provided with an opening which isexposed to the current, the drum having a plurality of openings in itswalls, a plurality of paddles arranged within the drum with respect tosaid openings, in the drum, and means constructed and arranged forprojecting one paddle at a time through the corresponding opening of thedrum and beyond the opening of the casing and into the cur. rent andsheathing such paddle when out of contact with the current as the drumUSES and falls on the stationary vertical shaft.

9. In a current water-wheel, in combination, a hollow drum provided.with openings in its wall, a plurality of paddles-within the drumadapted for reciprocation into and out of the drum through the openingsin the wall of the latter, and means constructed and arranged tosuccessively project one paddle at a time into the current and sheathingthe paddles .within the drum during projection of one paddle at atime,.whereby each paddle is confined within the drum during all of itstravel except when project-- ed from the drum.

10. In a current water-wheel, in eombina-- tion, a vertical hollow drumprovided with spaced vertical. openings in its wall, a concentric casingclosely surrounding such drum and open on the side exposed to thecurrent, series of radial vertical paddles within the drum adapted foroutward movement into the current through the vertical openings, andmeans for automatically pro-- jecting each paddle into the currentacross the open side of the casing and sheathing the: same within thedrum, during the remainder of its travel.

11. In a current water-wheel, in combina tior a stationary verticalshaft, a hollow drum provided with spaced vertical openings in its wallrevolving upon such shaft,

a concentric casing closely surrounding such drum and open on the sideexposed to the current, a series of radial vertical paddles:

within the drum adapted for outward movement into the current throughthe vertical openings, and means for automatically projecting eachpaddle into the current across the open side of the casing and sheathingthe same within the drum, during the remainder of its travel.

12. In a current water-wheel, in combina tion, astationaryverticalshaft, avertically movable hollow drum provided with spacedvertical openings in its wall revolving upon such shaft, a concentriccasing closely surrounding such drum and open on the side exposed to thecurrent, a series of radial vertical paddles within the drum adapted foroutward movement into the current through the vertical openings, andmeans for auto matically projecting each paddle into the current acrossthe open side of the casing and sheathing the same within the drum,during the remainder of its travel.

13;. In a current water-wheel, in combination, a stationary verticalshaft, a hollow drum revolving upon such shaft and provided with spacedvertical openings in its wall, a concentric casing closelysurroundingsuch drum and open at the side exposed to the current, aseries of radial vertical paddles adapted for outward movement throughthe vertical openings in the wall of the drum, motors within the drumfor separately reciprocating the paddles into and vout of operativeposition and a pump comof operative'position, a pump communicatingwithand operating the separate motors, such pump receiving its impulse fromthe revolving drum, and automatic means connected with the separatemotors and the permanent framework and operated by the revolving drumfor controlling the motors.

15. In a current water-wheel, in combination, a stationary verticalshaft, a vertically movable hollow drum: revolving upon such shaft andprovided with spaced vertical openings in its wall, a concentric casingclosely surrounding such drum and open at the side exposed to thecurrent, a series of radial vertical paddles adapted for outwardmovement through the vertical openings in the wall of the drum, motorswithin the drum for separately reciprocating the paddles into and out ofoperative position and a pump communicating with and operating theseparate motors, such pump receiving its impulse from the revolvingdrum.

16. In a current water-wheel, in combination, a stationary verticalshaft, a vertically movable hollow drum revolving upon such shaft andprovided with spaced vertical openings in its wall, a concentric casingclosely. surrounding such drum and open at the side exposed to thecurrent, a series of radial vertical paddles adapted for outwardmovement through the vertical openings in the wall of the drum, motorswithin the drum for separately reciprocating the paddles into and out ofoperative position, a pump communicating with and operating the separatemotors, such pump receiving its impulse from the revolving drum, andautomatic means connected with the separate motors and the permanentframework and operated by the revolving drum for controlling the motors.

17. In a current water wheel, the combination with a casing providedwith an opening exposed to the current; of a drum mounted for rotationwithin the casing and provided with a series of openings; paddlesconfined normally within the drum with respect to the openings of thelatter for radial projection through the corresponding openings; andmeans for projecting one paddle at a time through the correspondingopening of the drum and beyond the opening in the casing.

18. In a water motor, a rotatable casing, a driving blade adapted forreciprocation through the sides of the casing, and means for operatingthe blade at predetermined points, said means consisting of a cylinderhaving a piston therein and attached to the stem of the blade wherebywhen compressed air is supplied to one end of the cylinder, the blade isoperated in one direction, and when applied to the opposite end theblade is operated in the opposite direction, and means for controllingthe supply of compressed air to the cylinder. 7

19. In a current water wheel, the combination with a casing providedwith a single opening which is exposed to the current, of a drum mountedfor rotation within the easing and provided with a plurality ofopenings, paddles within the drum arranged with respect to the openingsof the latter for radial projection through the corresponding openings,and means for projecting one paddle ata time through the correspondingopening of the drum and beyond the opening of the casing, the remainingpaddles being confined wholly within the drum during the said projectionof one of them.

20. In a current water wheel in combination with a stationary verticalshaft, a vertically movable drum mounted for rotation on said shaft, acasing surrounding the drum and provided with an opening which isexposed to the current, the drum having a plurality of vertical openingsin its walls, paddles arranged within the drum with respect to saidopenings in the drum, and means for automatically projecting each paddlethrough the corresponding opening of the drum and beyond the opening ofthe casing and into the current and shielding the paddles when out ofcontact with the current as the drum rises and falls on the stationaryvertical shaft.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THEOPHILUS SYMMONDS.

Witnesses CHAS. J. GARvnY, W. T. MniInR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner 0! Patents, Washington, D. G.

